Biscuit logging resistance video

The National Forest Protection Alliance recently held our Sixth Annual National Convention in the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area of Southwestern Oregon - home of the Biscuit Fire "Recovery" Plan, the largest logging project in U.S. Forest Service history.

One hundred forest activists from around the nation met for four days to discuss and share strategies that will defend and restore America's national forests.

The convention successfully provided the maximum support to local activists, while highlighting the problems with the Biscuit timber sale in the media and to the general public through a solid four days of media coverage in the region.

NFPA and grassroots forest activists used the convention as an opportunity to demonstrate our opposition to the Biscuit timber sale by organizing a rally, direct action, coordinating media coverage and engaging in direct outreach in Grants Pass and the Illinois Valley. Here are the specifics about how NFPA and grassroots forest activists responded:

37,000 Copies of Biscuit Primer Inserted into the Medford Mail Tribune
To kick off the start of the NFPA convention, a 4-page newspaper insert was placed in the Friday, Oct. 1st issue of the Medford Mail Tribune about Biscuit Logging Plan. This excellent insert can be viewed at http://www.nativeforest.org/pdf/Biscuit_Primer.pdf.

"Doing the D.O." - Direct Outreach Reaches Thousands of Locals
Before the Oct. 4th Rally, 50 activists from around the nation went door to door and store to store in Grants Pass and the Illinois Valley to discuss the Biscuit logging plan with local citizens. While "Doing the D.O." we distributed an additional 5,000 copies of the Biscuit Primer.  This simple way of engaging people struck a cord with not only the people we talked with, but within our forest community as we all felt empowered and inspired. We should all be "Doing the D.O." on a regular basis in communities around the country.

Rally to Make Ancient Forest Logging History

Over 120 activists gathered in front of the Siskiyou National Forest office in Grants Pass for an energetic rally to express opposition to the Biscuit timber sale and logging of national forests. The rally included the "Winds of Change" puppet show and inspirational words from Takelma tribal elder Agnes Pilgrim. Other rally speakers included Lesley Adams (KS Wild),Tim Ream, Jake Kreilick (NFPA) and Laurel Sutherland (Oxygen Collective). Media coverage of the rally was extensive (see list below).


Citizen Blockade Stops Biscuit's Horse Timber Sale - In the early morning hours of Oct. 4th, 30 citizens stopped logging on the Horse timber sale for 5 hours by erecting a blockade. The Horse timber sale is the first of the logging projects under the Biscuit Fire "Recovery" Plan to be logged. It's located in a remote section of the Siskiyou National Forest near the northwestern border of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. On-the-ground monitoring of the Horse timber sale continues. Media coverage of this action was also extensive (see list below).


Media Coverage on the Convention
* Newspaper articles by the Medford Mail Tribune, Grants Pass Daily Courier and Ashland Daily Tidings.
* In depth radio coverage on Jefferson Public Radio.
* TV coverage on NBC affiliate out of Medford.

Media on Oct 4th Rally and Related Logging of Horse Timber Sale
* Newspaper article by the Associated Press. This article appeared at least in the Eugene Register Guard, Salem State Journal, Oregonian, Albany Democrat-Herald and on websites of TV stations KATU-Portland, KATU-Portland, KUAL-Eugene, KPIC-Roseburg, KBC News-Klamath, CA.
* Additional newspaper articles in the Medford Mail Tribune, Grants Pass Daily Courier and Ashland Daily Tidings.
* In depth radio coverage on Oregon Public Broadcasting; Jefferson Public Radio; Jefferson Exchange; and KPFA (Pacifica Network public radio station for Northern and Central CA out of Berkeley).

* TV coverage on all 3 network affiliates from Medford, Oregon.
* In depth story on Environment News Service.